Sounders trounced by Revolution, 5-0

That’s the appropriate adjective to use when describing the Sounders’ 5-0 loss to the Revolution on Sunday, Seattle’s worst loss in franchise history.

After an early offensive surge, the Sounders collapsed under a barrage of goals in the first half. The five goals tied the most ever allowed by the Sounders in MLS play, matching the five allowed in a 5-1 loss to Colorado last season.

The loss also snapped a five-game winning streak, which had tied a franchise record. It was also the first time the Sounders were shut out this season.

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The last thing Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was going to do was make excuses because his team was playing its third match in nine days.

“We had possession of the ball,” Schmid said. “We were the ones holding the ball and knocking the ball around. It wasn’t a situation where our legs were so heavy that we couldn’t play soccer.

“We played soccer. But I think, psychologically, maybe we weren’t as alert as we needed to be in certain occasions like around the box and maybe defensively. Our positional defense was not good.”

Seattle (7-3-1) had three quality scoring opportunities in the first four minutes but was unable to capitalize on any of them.

Marco Pappa’s shot from inside the box was barely wide left and went over the end line off a Revolution defender.

On the ensuing corner kick, Revs keeper Bobby Shuttleworth (six saves) made a diving save on a shot by Lamar Neagle.

Then, Obafemi Martins’ shot from 12 yards out was blocked by Shuttleworth.

“We started off the game like we were ready to go and then there were a couple of defensive lapses and we found ourselves on the back foot,” defender Brad Evans said. “Now, we have to regroup and focus on San Jose.”

Seattle’s inability to score proved costly when the Revs (5-3-2) erupted for four goals — the seventh time in franchise history that New England scored four goals in a half.

Chris Tierney carried the ball down the left wing and crossed it to Teal Bunbury, whose shot was blocked by Stefan Frei (six saves). But Patrick Mullins tapped home the rebound in the 14th minute.

Diego Fagundez scored the first of his two goals 15 minutes later when he settled a lead pass from Tierney inside the box and lined a shot into the far-right corner.

New England upped its lead to 3-0 in the 37th minute.

Lee Nguyen split Seattle’s defense with a pass to Bunbury, whose initial shot was blocked by Frei. But Bunbury pounced on the rebound and drilled a shot that deflected in off Frei’s left hand.

Fagundez completed the first-half onslaught in the 41st minute.

Bunbury’s diagonal pass found Fagundez streaking down the left wing and the 19-year-old midfielder beat Frei with a low liner.

“I think four in the first half is tough to bounce back from,” Evans said. “You do your best to fight and claw back. Then we get unlucky with the deflection and it’s five at the start of the second half.”

The play Evans referred to occurred less than a minute into the second half when New England went ahead 5-0 on what was ruled an own goal because Bunbury’s shot deflected in off defender Chad Marshall.

“We will bounce back next week,” Schmid said. “There isn’t any other option.”

Defenseless

The Sounders’ 5-0 loss to the Revolution on Sunday was the worst in franchise history. It also tied the team record for most goals allowed in a game. Oh, and it put a resounding end to Seattle’s five-game winning streak. A look at some of their other one-sided losses: